New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-08-13
Il else FOR CHAMPAGNE.

Secretary Whitney should he gralelu ~
Adrira, Iucc Instead of following up his
crushing rcbuke with whitening sarcasms anu
stern rcproachcs the quarterback at bar
uarbor, he should fall upon his neck and en-
brace him. Unwittingly the Admiral has
rendered the. Administration and the Secre-
taiy a great service.
They had sent him to Halifax with the
squadron without furnishing him with dcllhlto
Instructions Canadian cruisers were coast
ing along the fishing grounds with orders 10
barass the American fishing-llcct 1t seemed
+, he the proper thing to have some counter
disnlay of force on the American side. Even
so feeble an Administration us that OF Frank
lin Pierce had sent vessels oi-war TO the
fishing grounds in similar circumstances and
the present Administration rightly considered
that it woUld look well and do no harm TO
have an American squadron in those waters
this summer. What course the Admiral was
TO pursue or what measures should be adoped
for the protection of American interests they
did not stop to consider. They sent Admiral
Luce north in search Of Il policy. lie though
he had found il after his ii st interview With
CAPTAIN Scott and he put it in practice with
more promptness and greater vigor than inc
Administration had disp.aycd during the whole
course of the fisheries controversy UhIofl-
unately for the Admiral, it happened TO be
good Canadian policy but very poor Alh'r-
lean policy. But his loss was the Admins
trations gain The Secretary who had
neglected 10 give definite instructions Snubbcd
the Admiral for cooperating with the Can
indian coast guard. The Administration which
had no policy Of It's own displayed its patriot
ism by condcmning the Admiral'S 'un-Amcr-
lean" proceedings and Immediately ordered
the squadron to return.
The Canadian press is furnls hing addlIlohb
capital for the Secretary and the Admlnlslra-
ton BY extravagant compliments 10 the Az
miIal and coarse abuse of his supcriors. Ono
of the Halifax journals describes the score
tary's order as decidedly low and unbccomlnp
the high official position he holds, and rs
reminding one iIrcsstIbly of the withcring
sarcasm OF a police court shyster. mat SORT
Of writing will tend 10 elevate the Secretary
in the estimation Of Americans. They may
begin to suspect that the Administration has
been really acting theoretically and may be
tempted TO forget the plain fact that it has
done nothing but recall the squadron whose
lions was seeking To assist it i'll the develop
mcnt of what he assumed TO be its diplomatic
policy
The Administration derives additional ald
and comfort from the Canadian press when
the charge is made that MIR. Secretary
Whitney and his kind expected the Admiral
60 enter Halifax with the airs OF a stage
nitrate or buccanCcr,' to issue a sort OF proc
Iamatlon of war and after picking quarrel
with the British authorities to send his men
TO their quarters TO clear his decks for action
and Ia leave the harbOr IN Il blaze OF bun
connie glory. II The Halifax Chronicle IS
to be believed, the Administration actually
had some notion of protecting American in
tcrests and of appealing TO the patriotic pride
OF the country; and furthermore the Admiral
by acting like an officer and gentleman. has
brought down upon himself the ccnsurc Of
every Yankee batherskto from ODonoyan
Rosa to Mr. Secretary Whitney" For this
lattcrng assumption that the Administration
had "a policy OF It's own, and vigorous one.
too the Secretary should indeed be grateful to
| the Admiral 1t Is case for smiles and cham
payne III the cabin, in place OF frowns and
! rcbukes on the uuartcr-dcCk.